Nice, France – Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike claimed his first overall victory at Paris-Nice on Sunday, a significant milestone as he builds toward the Giro d’Italia and a potential challenge for a historic third consecutive Grand Tour title. The Danish rider finished second on the final stage, narrowly beaten by Lenny Martinez of Bahrain Victorious, but his commanding lead in the general classification ensured the win. This marks the third consecutive year that Team Visma | Lease a Bike has topped the podium at the “Race to the Sun.”
The victory is particularly resonant for Vingegaard, coming a year after a crash forced him to abandon the race. He completed the 113th edition of Paris-Nice with a final time of 29 hours, 36 minutes and 43 seconds, finishing 4 minutes and 23 seconds ahead of Dani Martinez of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Georg Steinhauser of EF Education-EasyPost rounded out the podium.
While the numbers tell a story of dominance – including two stage wins and the overall lead – Vingegaard himself acknowledges a lingering uncertainty as he assesses his form heading into the season’s major races. Despite strong performances throughout the week, including a decisive breakaway on the hilly fifth stage, questions remain about how he stacks up against key rivals like Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel.
Sunday’s final stage, a 130-kilometer course around Nice featuring four climbs, saw Vingegaard animate the race with an attack on the Côte du Linguador. Only Martinez was able to stay with him, and the pair worked together until the final kilometer. Martinez ultimately took the stage win in a sprint finish, but Vingegaard’s earlier acceleration effectively sealed his overall victory. The winning margin of 4 minutes and 23 seconds is the largest since 1939, and the fourth-biggest in the history of the race, underscoring Vingegaard’s control over the competition.
The 2026 Paris-Nice was marked by challenging conditions and a series of withdrawals from key contenders. Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), Antonio Romeo (Movistar), and Ben Onley (Ineos) were among those forced to abandon the race due to the difficult weather and dangerous course. This attrition, while unfortunate, did open the door for Vingegaard to secure a relatively unchallenged path to the overall title.
Vingegaard’s approach to racing has often been a subject of debate, with some critics suggesting he is too cautious. Yet, at Paris-Nice, he demonstrated a willingness to attack at different points in the race, both before and after taking the yellow jersey. This tactical flexibility suggests a potential shift in strategy as he prepares for the Giro d’Italia in May.
“Today was almost the perfect day,” Vingegaard said after the race. “We had a lot of fun today, we raced full gas all day. It feels great to finally win Paris-Nice. It took a few attempts, but this time everything went according to plan. It’s a race where something always seemed to go wrong. Fortunately, this year all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. I’m extremely happy, and proud. It’s already a great start to my season.”
Beyond Vingegaard’s triumph, the race also saw Isaac del Toro of UAE Team Emirates emerge victorious at the concurrent Tirreno-Adriatico, securing the ‘maglia azzurra’ and solidifying his position as a rising star in the sport. Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek won the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico in a sprint finish.
For Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Vingegaard’s victory continues a period of sustained success at Paris-Nice, following overall wins by Matteo Jorgenson in both 2024 and 2025. The team’s consistent performance highlights their strength and depth in stage racing.
Looking ahead, Vingegaard will continue his preparations for the Giro d’Italia with a start at the Volta a Catalunya next week. This race will serve as a final tune-up before he embarks on his ambitious attempt to win all three Grand Tours in a single season – a feat that would cement his place among the greatest cyclists of all time.
Ion Izagirre, riding for Movistar, finished a commendable seventh overall in Paris-Nice, demonstrating consistent form throughout the week-long event.
The cycling world now turns its attention to the upcoming Milano-San Remo, where riders like Mathieu van der Poel will look to showcase their skills. Roglic’s announcement that he will take a break from racing between May and August to spend time with his family has also generated significant discussion within the peloton.
In other racing news, Jordi López of Euskaltel-Euskadi achieved a 12th-place finish in the opening stage of the Tour de Taiwan, a promising start for the Spanish team.
Vingegaard’s Paris-Nice victory is more than just a win; it’s a statement. While questions about his form relative to his rivals remain, he has undeniably demonstrated his strength and tactical acumen. As he sets his sights on the Giro d’Italia and beyond, the cycling world will be watching closely to see if he can achieve his ambitious goals.
What’s Next: Jonas Vingegaard will compete in the Volta a Catalunya, beginning March 18th, as a final preparation race for the Giro d’Italia in May.
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